Four seniors have been named finalists in the Noon Optimist Club Student of the Year competition. Leslie Atkins is a finalist in the Community Involvement category, Bailey Brock in All-Around, Grace Greene in Life Hero and Will Warren in Creative Arts.
Atkins has taken one Honors course, and is a member of Spanish National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and Concert Choir. She is also president of the “Y” Cabinet and has served on Darlington’s Servant Leadership Committee for two years, helping to plan community service activities for the Upper School student body. Atkins can often be seen volunteering after school at the Boys & Girls Club and the Open Door Children’s Home with her peers. As a sophomore, she and another student spearheaded “Put a Lid on Autism,” selling baseball caps to build awareness about autism and raise money to purchase laptop computers for autistic high school students in the Floyd County Schools system. For the past three years, she has also volunteered her time with special-needs children at Unity Christian School’s Buddy Break. She is the daughter of Dr. John and Christie Atkins of Rome.
Brock, an AP Scholar with Honor, has taken 22 AP and Honors courses. She is a member of the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Honor Council, “Y” Cabinet and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also serves as an Admission Tiger Expert, a spiritual life liaison and vice president of the House Senate. A three-sport athlete, Brock is a four-year starter in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse. As a team captain, she has led the volleyball team to four state berths. Additionally, her contributions to the ladies’ basketball team, of which she is also a team captain, have placed the Lady Tigers in the Top 10 in state playoffs for the last three years. She has been named to numerous All-Area and All-Region teams during her athletic career. Brock has received the Wellesley Book Award, the University of Georgia Merit Certificate, the Furman Scholar Award, the Wofford Scholar Award, the Centre College Fellow Award, and was also selected to be Darlington’s nominee for the Morehead-Cain Scholars Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was also named Homecoming Queen this fall. She is the daughter of Dawn and Harry Brock of Rome.
Greene, an AP Scholar, has taken 19 AP and Honors courses. She is an academic prefect and a servant leadership liaison, and also enjoys playing golf and tennis. She was named Student of the Year as a sophomore at Eagle’s Landing High School in her hometown of McDonough, Ga., and has received Darlington’s Sewanee Club Award and E.L. Wright Award for AP Biology (awarded to the student with the highest average). She enjoys volunteering her time at community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, McHenry Primary School, Rome Little Theater and Rome Action Ministries. She is the daughter of Robin and Gerald Greene of McDonough, Ga.
Warren, an AP Scholar with Honor, has taken 21 AP and Honors courses. He is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the Random Notes a cappella singing group and the varsity tennis team. This year, he is president of the Concert Choir, vice president of The Darlington Players and the Honor Council, and secretary of the Y-Cabinet. He also participates in All-State Chorus and All-State Reading Chorus each year. Warren has garnered the male lead role in the winter musical for the past two years – currently starring as Danny Zuko in Darlington’s production of “Grease” – and has received the E.L. Wright Award for Men’s Chorale (awarded to the student with the highest average). He is the son of Dr. Ben and Ann Warren of Cartersville, Ga.
Student of the Year winners will be announced at the Student of the Year Banquet on Monday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. Finalists, their parents and school representatives are invited to attend.
